Water pump & well pump electrical power - main switch questions & answers.:

This article series describes how to find the main power switch on a well pump or water pump. In an emergency you may need to turn this switch off to avoid costly damage to the pump motor or its controls or to avoid an unsafe condition.

Water Pump Switch Questions & Answers

These questions and answers about the power switch to turn a well pump or water pump OFF or ON were posted originally at WATER PUMP ELECTRICAL SWITCHES - be sure to go through the advice given there.

On 2018-11-26 by (mod) - where is the pump power switch?

Burney

There is usually a power switch at the pressure tank / pressure control switch in a utility room or sometimes in a well pit

and the circuit breaker for the pump circuit will usually be in the main electrical panel

On 2018-11-26 by Burney

Where is the breaker switch for a well pump generally located?

On 2018-10-30 by (mod) - pump won't shut off

Albert

See the diagnosis and repair advice at

WATER PUMP WONT STOP RUNNING

i suspect a leak

On 2018-10-29 by Albert

my pump turns on at 40, however the pressure doesn't build up to 60 to allow the pump to shut off. The pressure actually drops below 40 and the pump continues to run.

On 2018-07-04 22:35:43.051175 by Jay Jennings

We have just lost our water pressure - no water. We have a outside wellhouse at our farm house and the pressure gage is showing about 15. I can't find any water standing anywhere, so figure either a pump problem or an electrical problem. I haven't found a reset button, and don't know what to do. HELP!
Appreciate your kind attention.

On 2018-02-16 18:55:40.067281 by (mod) -

you can call the Jomar Add A Valve co at 1-800-325-5690

On 2018-02-16 by (mod) - how to add a water shutoff if the existing valves don't work

Joyce,

Follow the waterer supply pipes back to the source.

If there is only one shutoff valve and that one is not closing off the water supply then
follow further back to find where turn off ALL of your water supply.

[Click to enlarge any image]

You'll have to turn off all water, then repair or replace the bad shutoff valve to the waterer.

I've seen other tricks that work in an emergency, depending on the type of piping, such as cutting, crimping over, and bending shut copper water pipes, or sawing through a pipe and hammering in a wooden cork as a temporary emergency measure.

Some plumbers also use freon and actually freeze a water line long enough to permit installation of a shutoff valve or cap.

Finally, if you can find one locally, there are add-on emergency shutoff valves that can be added to a water line whose water you can't otherwise shut off, such as the Jomar Add-A-Valve. I'll paste in an image just below. (http://www.jomarvalve.com/ )

On 2018-02-15 by Joyce

We live in the country and have an outside cattle waterer that is leaking.

We thought we had it shut off several years ago,
but now it is leaking by inside the waterer.

We're using 4000 gal. of water a day and we normally use half that much. How can
I shut off the water to the waterer. Thanks.

On 2018-01-16 16:24:27.374819 by (mod) -

If there i s no service switch at the pump, find the pump circuit in the electrical panel and turn that off. Or just switch breakers off one by one until the pump stops.

On 2018-01-16 03:36:41.801384 by Anonymous

Water heater tank failed, leaks water shut off power and water supply tank is dry. This system is hooked up to a solar system there's a pump motor above water heater how do I turn this off breaker to water tank off

On 2017-12-19 13:52:43.708732 by FH

Ozzy

Sometimes when there is a failed foot valve in the well or check valve at the pump, when the pump is left off for a time water drains back into the well and the pump loses prime.

Try re-priming the system. If that returns water (or if you can't prime because water runs so rapidly down into the well) then I suspect I've guessed correctly.

On 2017-12-18 09:25:09.635040 by Ozzy

I turned water off to underground well pump to fix a crack in my toilet went to turn back on and still have no water idk what to do help?

On 2016-10-28 02:29:09.322535 by (mod) -

Eaton is a Cutler Hammer brand with which I've had and heard only good experience.

On 2016-10-28 01:25:24.510576 by FH

Sorry below is my post. Not sure how your name got added to it.

On 2016-10-28 01:19:15.645164 by (mod)

Thanks for your reply.

The inevitable need to call electrician inspired me to map out the 20A fuses tonight. It seems the plumber plugged his "breaker beeping device" (sorry don't know all the lingo) into an outlet box that contains the conduit to the well. However those outlets only supply the sump pump and the well had its own dedicated breaker adjacent to the sump pump breaker.

Needless to say when the beeping stopped the pump still kicked in, and when the well breaker was tripped the beeping still occurred. I assume time is of the essence with him and he decided to play the safe route and trip the main.

I will keep in mind the potential for some breakers not to completely cut off. My panel is made by Eaton which I hope is a better brand.

Thanks again for your help.

On 2016-10-28 00:03:34.840355 by (mod) -

FH

Watch out: you are describing a very dangerous situation: I suspect that one or more of your circuit breakers stays "ON" internally even when switched to the OFF position. Brands such as Pushmatic, Challenger, Zinsco, FPE and some others might have this trouble.

The risk is that someone is killed by electrocution after thinking they've turned power off while it actually remains on while working on an electrical circuit or device.

it's time to ask for help from a licensed electrician.

On 2016-10-27 23:31:19.457622 by FH

Had plumbing repairs today. Plumber mentioned there was no breaker for our well pump and pressure switch. He tried every breaker and the only way to cut power was to trip main breaker.

I was wondering if this is possible or did he likely miss the breaker. Unfortunately only a few breakers are labeled. I did not identify any other remote breaker boxes or switches close to our tank or well outside.

Are there any other tricks to maybe quickly identifying the proper breaker? (I.E. common amps etc.). All double breakers are accounted for. I plan to take a Saturday afternoon and nap our fuse box soon.

On 2016-10-24 23:02:11.143187 by (mod) -

A tripped circuit breaker;

A pump protection switch turns off the pump because the pump was running dry;

A broken or shorted wire.

A damage pump control switch.

On 2016-10-23 10:47:10.875059 by Anonymous

What would cause no electricity going to water pressure tank

On 2016-10-23 10:46:17.509347 by Anonymous

No electricity going to pressure tank

On 2016-03-18 23:45:52.164724 by (mod) -

You could wire just one side of the double-pole switch, provided it has a common internal trip mechanism, but I wouldn't do so. I'd replace all of the rusted components.

On 2016-03-18 17:07:58.880712 by Dave

I have separate fuse panel with off and on switch and its rusted. I have a new double pole switch can I use this to replace old single pole and if so how is it wired

On 2015-08-17 01:12:25.220386 by (mod) -

Paul, you can find this article: WATER PUMP WON'T START FAQs in the ARTICLE INDEX to WATER SUPPLY, PUMPS TANKS WELLS

given above.

A complete WATER PUMP REPAIR GUIDE is at https://inspectapedia.com/water/Water_Pump_Repair_Guide.php

On 2015-08-13 14:33:00.187357 by paul

my water pumps not working. i dont know if electrical problems. what should i do

On 2015-04-03 14:02:15.690090 by (mod) -

Dick

we have a diagnostic article for water pumps that won't shut off - in ARTICLE INDEX see

WATER PUMP WONT STOP RUNNING

please let me know if after reading that you have more questions

On 2015-04-03 13:33:34.576740 by Dick

The F & W water pump will not shut off when it comes up to pressure. I tap it lightly on the conductor box and it shuts off. How do I fix it

On 2015-04-01 05:52:54.966940 by R P VERMA

how to make electrical connection of pressure switch which control the pump motor when water pressure goes low.

Question: got a shock touching the water pump

(June 15, 2014) Anonymous said:
electric shok on the body of water pump

Reply:

Anon

Watch out: as doubtless you realize, if you got a shock by touching a water pump then the pump wiring has an internal short to the pump body and is VERY DANGEROUS - risking even death.

Turn the equipment off immediately and hire a professional electrician to find and fix the trouble, or replace the pump, control, or wiring that is at fault.

Question: DAB Smart Press short cycling

(June 18, 2014) Anonymous said:
DAB Smart Press goes on and off every 15 seconds-no leaks

Reply:

Anon

At the ARTICLE INDEX at the end of this article see

WATER PUMP,SHORT CYCLING

For diagnosis and repair of the problem you describe.

Most water pumps can be turned off electrically at two locations: a switch located near the water pump or tank, such as shown the photo here and as the silver-colored electrical switch at left in this close up photo and also at the building's main

...

Continue reading at WATER PUMP ELECTRICAL SWITCHES or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• WATER PUMP PRESSURE CONTROL SWITCH
• WATER PUMP CONTROLS & SWITCHES
• WATER PUMP PRESSURE CONTROL REPAIR to diagnose pressure switch problems or to replace the pressure switch contact relay parts or diaphragm.

Suggested citation for this web page

WATER PUMP ELECTRICAL SWITCH FAQs at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to WATER SUPPLY, PUMPS TANKS WELLS

Or use the SEARCH BOX found below to Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia

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